Most modern video games aim to entice their audiences by providing them with realistic graphics, flashy action sequences, gripping stories, likable characters, and more. Nevertheless, since most developers stick to the same recipe, modern games often contain things the public has seen many times before, and little by little, players are repelled by the same taste of "cakes" of different colors. that they serve us again and again… Fortunately, this is not always the case, as from time to time. a rare and delicious game emerges, offering players something truly different, unique and memorable. One of those games is Journey.
Development
Journey was developed by Thatgamecompany, an independent game studio founded in 2006. This game developer is known for creating games that are simply said - the art form. Unlike many other projects that primarily value flashy action sequences and realistic, stunning graphics, Thatgamecompany aims to create games that allow players to experience an emotional roller coaster while presenting them with artistic beauty that transcends borders. age, culture or background.
Journey was released in 2012 on Playstation 3. It was ported to Playstation 4 in 2015 and also available on PC in June 2019. Today, more than seven years after its initial release, Journey is also available on iOS.
story
While most games that are heavily story-driven focus on interesting dialogue, shocking plot twists, or gripping characters, Journey does none of the above. There is no dialogue in the game, and the whole story is presented to players visually. Shortly after the game starts, you will find yourself in the role of a masked character in the middle of a vast desert, observing a large mountain in the distance. The mountain is seen to have a glowing crevice that divides its summit and emits a distant light into the sky. From the start, players will know they have to reach the top of the mountain and the journey begins.
Over the course of the game you will explore the ruins of a long lost civilization, almost entirely covered in sand. Along the way, you'll feel like meeting a tall figure in a white robe inside the circular room filled with murals depicting the events that have taken place as well as those yet to happen. Without going into spoilers, it can be said that the Journey story is one of the best and most unique of your life in a video game.
gameplay
When it comes to gameplay, Journey has pretty straightforward and minimalist controls. You can move, jump, and also utter a wordless cry which has various effects. The player character wears a magic scarf which can temporarily allow you to fly. This will consume the scarf's magical energy which can be recharged just by walking. As you explore, you will sometimes come across glowing symbols that will extend the length of your scarf. This will allow you to stay in the air longer. Other than that, on some levels you will be able to slide in the sand which is really satisfying.
While playing, you can also meet other players. Since there is no chat feature in Journey, you will only be able to interact with them using your shout. Also, other players cannot affect you in a negative way, so there is no grieving or lagging behind in this match.
Other than that, the level design is phenomenal. You will progress linearly through the levels, but you will have all the freedom to explore the areas that interest you. There are a lot of secrets scattered throughout the game, and if you manage to find them all, you will receive a special reward that will further motivate you to explore and discover all that this majestic game has to offer.
Still, it should be noted that unlike the Playstation version, the iOS port is not as smooth. The controls can sometimes get faulty and the camera can get quite messy at times. However, since the game was released on iOS fairly recently, the developers are expected to fix the issues and fix them in one of the future updates.
Atmosphere
This is by far the best part of Journey. The feeling you get while playing cannot be simply described in words. The immensity of the levels will amaze you at times, and the feeling of satisfaction you get when you fly or slide in the sand is simply amazing. To top it off, the sound effects and music are perfectly mastered. These fit perfectly into the game and will have a positive impact on your gaming experience.
You will also experience a wide variety of emotions while playing Journey. These range from happiness, joy and strong emotions to anguish, sadness and even sometimes despair. Each zone has a certain vibe, and the developers have done an amazing job connecting each zone to some of those emotions. It's hard to describe it in words, especially without exploring spoiler territory, and you really have to experience it yourself to understand it.
Graphic
At first glance, Journey's graphics may seem quite simplistic, but they are much more than meets the eye. The art style is really amazing, and kudos to the art development team. The game is truly a sight for sore eyes, and you will enjoy watching the vast landscapes with a shiny mount standing in the distance. The ruins that you come across while exploring are also very well made and fit perfectly into the game world. And even though the game launched over 7 years ago, it has aged quite well and it still looks great. than at the time.
Verdict
All in all, Journey is a wonderful game that will immerse you in its world from the start. It truly is a work of art and everyone should experience it at least once. It's also worth mentioning that currently Journey costs $ 4,99 which is pretty good value for your money considering that your first phase of play will take around three hours. When you factor in that Journey has incredible rehearsal value, it's definitely worth buying. All in all give it a try, you sure won't regret it.
9 Chart
Gameplay 8
